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Early Days in Lewistown
By P.M. Silloway
The Kendall mine in the north Moccasins was attracting attention those days. This
group of claims was named from Harry Kendall, who had an early interest in them.
The value of these mines led to the establishing of a large mill there, and a town of
considerable activity was the result - a place which has become one of the famous
"ghost towns" of Montana. Grant Robinson was manager or foreman of the Kendall
mine when we became acquainted, and later his family formed a part of the Lewistown
Community.
The Tubbs brothers came here in the winter or spring of 1901, as contractors and
builders. Jeff and Jack were the names I recall, and for several years they were well
known here. O.F. Wasmansdorff was another who invaded the Lewistown area then,
at first having a connection with the mines or mill at Gilt Edge, and later establishing
an office in Lewistown as mining engineer or surveyor. Gordon Shafer came to
Lewistown that spring or summer, accepting a position in the Judith Basin bank, and
remained a citizen of Judith Basin for a number of years; he is another who is
becoming an old time in this region. About that time George Day and F. Tullock
acquired the Dark Horse Livery barn. I recall when the Golden Rule store opened by
Akins and Jones. Afterward Mr. Akins obtained full control of this business, and in
time he became a leading member of the Lewistown community. Joe Briggs
established himself here as a decorator and sign writer, and I remember when he first
talked school with me. Harry Briggs was one of the boys in the old high school days
who kept a warm regard for me; several years ago, when I was passing along Central
Avenue in Great Falls, someone hailed me from across the street - it was Harry
wishing to speak to me.
The mention of the Larssen family will recall many pleasant memories. Mrs. Larssen
lived near us in the north part of town and Will Larssen was connected with the
democratic newspapers by J effey Johns and others in those days of quick changes in
business. J.P. Barnes married Mrs. Larssen that spring, and I recall how Mrs.
Silloway assisted at that important function, helping to prepare the eats. They were
always intimate friends of ours.
Some changes occurred on the board of trustees of the county high school in the
spring of 1901, and the member I now recall were R. von Tobel, David Hilger, Theo.
Hogeland, W.A. Hedges, Frank Barnes of Gilt Edge, and Elizabeth Peebles ex officio.
These began to plan at once for a county high school of the first rank, in reality laying
the foundation for what later became acknowledged as the foremost institution of its
kind in the state.
The former heroine of the Wild West literature, "Calamity Jane," lived in the vicinity of
Lewistown during the time I am reviewing, having her headquarters near Gilt Edge. I
first saw her at the Day House when she was nearing the end of her active career. She
wore the dress of a woman of the states in poor circumstances, with a worn waist and
skirt, and a hat which had many times been remodeled. Having read about her in the
"Deadwood Dick" stories of my boyhood days, I was much disappointed when I saw
her in her decline. She was in and out of Lewistown several times during the period
1899-1901, and that spring she made her final departure from this region.

Silloway's reminiscences of the time he lived in Lewistown, Montana. He did a series of these articles for the newspaper in the 1930's.

Creator

Perley M. Silloway was the first principal of Fergus County high school in 1900 and author and nationally recognized authority on birdlife. He died in 1947. He came to Lewistown in 1898 and moved to Illinois in 1909,

Genre

newspapers

Type

Text

Date Original

1930

Date Estimated

1930's

Subject (keyword)

Perley M. Silloway;

Subject (AAT)

Schools;

Rights Management

No copyright restrictions

Contributing Institution

Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana

Geographic Coverage

Lewistown, Montana.

Digital Format

application/pdf

Physical format

PDF

Digitization Specifications

Canon MX310 300dpi

Full text of this item

Early Days in Lewistown
By P.M. Silloway
The Kendall mine in the north Moccasins was attracting attention those days. This
group of claims was named from Harry Kendall, who had an early interest in them.
The value of these mines led to the establishing of a large mill there, and a town of
considerable activity was the result - a place which has become one of the famous
"ghost towns" of Montana. Grant Robinson was manager or foreman of the Kendall
mine when we became acquainted, and later his family formed a part of the Lewistown
Community.
The Tubbs brothers came here in the winter or spring of 1901, as contractors and
builders. Jeff and Jack were the names I recall, and for several years they were well
known here. O.F. Wasmansdorff was another who invaded the Lewistown area then,
at first having a connection with the mines or mill at Gilt Edge, and later establishing
an office in Lewistown as mining engineer or surveyor. Gordon Shafer came to
Lewistown that spring or summer, accepting a position in the Judith Basin bank, and
remained a citizen of Judith Basin for a number of years; he is another who is
becoming an old time in this region. About that time George Day and F. Tullock
acquired the Dark Horse Livery barn. I recall when the Golden Rule store opened by
Akins and Jones. Afterward Mr. Akins obtained full control of this business, and in
time he became a leading member of the Lewistown community. Joe Briggs
established himself here as a decorator and sign writer, and I remember when he first
talked school with me. Harry Briggs was one of the boys in the old high school days
who kept a warm regard for me; several years ago, when I was passing along Central
Avenue in Great Falls, someone hailed me from across the street - it was Harry
wishing to speak to me.
The mention of the Larssen family will recall many pleasant memories. Mrs. Larssen
lived near us in the north part of town and Will Larssen was connected with the
democratic newspapers by J effey Johns and others in those days of quick changes in
business. J.P. Barnes married Mrs. Larssen that spring, and I recall how Mrs.
Silloway assisted at that important function, helping to prepare the eats. They were
always intimate friends of ours.
Some changes occurred on the board of trustees of the county high school in the
spring of 1901, and the member I now recall were R. von Tobel, David Hilger, Theo.
Hogeland, W.A. Hedges, Frank Barnes of Gilt Edge, and Elizabeth Peebles ex officio.
These began to plan at once for a county high school of the first rank, in reality laying
the foundation for what later became acknowledged as the foremost institution of its
kind in the state.
The former heroine of the Wild West literature, "Calamity Jane" lived in the vicinity of
Lewistown during the time I am reviewing, having her headquarters near Gilt Edge. I
first saw her at the Day House when she was nearing the end of her active career. She
wore the dress of a woman of the states in poor circumstances, with a worn waist and
skirt, and a hat which had many times been remodeled. Having read about her in the
"Deadwood Dick" stories of my boyhood days, I was much disappointed when I saw
her in her decline. She was in and out of Lewistown several times during the period
1899-1901, and that spring she made her final departure from this region.
Marshall Huffine was one of the boys who came back from the Filipinos campaign. In
the spring of 1901 he was married to Miss Maude Stapleton, a popular young lady of
the community and since they have resided with a continuously interesting circle of
friendship.
That spring there was given a little play which I recall with interest. It was in
connection with exercises in the public school (Hawthorne building), and Roy Ayers
assisted Leo Beebe, Gilbert Bullard, Dan Crowley, Mamie Cook, Don Waite, and others
in the farce, which was entitled "The Virginia Mummy."
In the spring of 1901 occurred the first commencement exercises of the Fergus county
free high school. We had a baccalaureate sermon on Sunday night proceeding at the
Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Albert pfaus. On Tuesday night of that week there was
junior class exercises of which I am unable to give the program. Judge E.K. Cheadle
gave an address either at the junior exercises or at commencement; I have forgotten
which it was. Here is the roll of the first class of graduates, class of 1901: Euphemia
Campbell, Annie Luton, Alice Glancy, Edith Dawes, Katie Anderson, Dorman Jackson,
Julia Sturman, Blanche Larned, James Reed, Ella Moshner and Walter Lehman.
(Note - if there are any programs of that week extant in the community, I shall be glad
to hear about them.) .

Early Days in Lewistown
By P.M. Silloway
The Kendall mine in the north Moccasins was attracting attention those days. This
group of claims was named from Harry Kendall, who had an early interest in them.
The value of these mines led to the establishing of a large mill there, and a town of
considerable activity was the result - a place which has become one of the famous
"ghost towns" of Montana. Grant Robinson was manager or foreman of the Kendall
mine when we became acquainted, and later his family formed a part of the Lewistown
Community.
The Tubbs brothers came here in the winter or spring of 1901, as contractors and
builders. Jeff and Jack were the names I recall, and for several years they were well
known here. O.F. Wasmansdorff was another who invaded the Lewistown area then,
at first having a connection with the mines or mill at Gilt Edge, and later establishing
an office in Lewistown as mining engineer or surveyor. Gordon Shafer came to
Lewistown that spring or summer, accepting a position in the Judith Basin bank, and
remained a citizen of Judith Basin for a number of years; he is another who is
becoming an old time in this region. About that time George Day and F. Tullock
acquired the Dark Horse Livery barn. I recall when the Golden Rule store opened by
Akins and Jones. Afterward Mr. Akins obtained full control of this business, and in
time he became a leading member of the Lewistown community. Joe Briggs
established himself here as a decorator and sign writer, and I remember when he first
talked school with me. Harry Briggs was one of the boys in the old high school days
who kept a warm regard for me; several years ago, when I was passing along Central
Avenue in Great Falls, someone hailed me from across the street - it was Harry
wishing to speak to me.
The mention of the Larssen family will recall many pleasant memories. Mrs. Larssen
lived near us in the north part of town and Will Larssen was connected with the
democratic newspapers by J effey Johns and others in those days of quick changes in
business. J.P. Barnes married Mrs. Larssen that spring, and I recall how Mrs.
Silloway assisted at that important function, helping to prepare the eats. They were
always intimate friends of ours.
Some changes occurred on the board of trustees of the county high school in the
spring of 1901, and the member I now recall were R. von Tobel, David Hilger, Theo.
Hogeland, W.A. Hedges, Frank Barnes of Gilt Edge, and Elizabeth Peebles ex officio.
These began to plan at once for a county high school of the first rank, in reality laying
the foundation for what later became acknowledged as the foremost institution of its
kind in the state.
The former heroine of the Wild West literature, "Calamity Jane" lived in the vicinity of
Lewistown during the time I am reviewing, having her headquarters near Gilt Edge. I
first saw her at the Day House when she was nearing the end of her active career. She
wore the dress of a woman of the states in poor circumstances, with a worn waist and
skirt, and a hat which had many times been remodeled. Having read about her in the
"Deadwood Dick" stories of my boyhood days, I was much disappointed when I saw
her in her decline. She was in and out of Lewistown several times during the period
1899-1901, and that spring she made her final departure from this region.